Patient self-administered abdominal pressure to reduce loop formation during minimally sedated colonoscopy

Assistant-administered abdominal pressure is usually required to reduce loop formation during a colonoscopy. The effect of patient self-administered abdominal pressure has not been evaluated.

To compare the effectiveness of patient self-administered abdominal pressure with assistant-administered abdominal pressure to reduce loop formation during colonoscopy performed with minimal sedation.

Consecutive patients who underwent colonoscopy were randomized to receive either patient self-administered abdominal pressure (patient group, n = 51) or assistant-administered abdominal pressure (assistant group, n = 52) when looping occurred during colonoscopy minimally sedated with meperidine. When patient-administered abdominal pressure failed to reduce the loop formation, an assistant took over and delivered the abdominal pressure.

No difference was found regarding cecal intubation rate, intubation time, mean pain scores, and overall satisfaction of patients between groups. However, fewer patients required assistant-administered pressure in the patient group than in the assistant group (18/51 vs. 41/52, P < 0.001).

Patient self-administered pressure is effective in reducing looping during minimally sedated colonoscopy.